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New HBO Series Reveals 4 Never-Before-Heard Secrets About That Iconic ‘Wonder Woman’ Scene

Author image: Karelle McKay Headshot
By Karelle Mckay
•
Published Mar 24, 2022

Have you ever wondered what goes into making the perfect film shot? Then, you’re certainly in for a treat with this new HBO Max series. Inspired by the Twitter account of the same name, One Perfect Shot is a docuseries that takes us behind the scenes of some iconic films we all know and love.

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay, the show introduces us to the brilliant minds behind our favorite movies, as they peel back the curtain on their most iconic shots. We get to see the film directors behind Wonder Woman, Crazy Rich Asians, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Heat, Girls Trip and Harriet.

The first episode focuses on film director Patty Jenkins, who helmed the superhero blockbuster, Wonder Woman. She takes viewers behind her perfect shot, which is titled “No Man’s Land.” This particular scene marks the first time audiences see Wonder Woman (played by Gal Gadot). But, how was the scene made?

Keep scrolling for four never-before-heard deets on the “No Man’s Land” scene, courtesy of Jenkins and her team.

1. The Color Grading In ‘wonder Woman’ Was Intentionally Used To Depict The World She Lived In

While sitting down with Charles Roven (the film’s producer) and Bill Westenhofer (Visual Effects Supervisor), Jenkins revealed the color grading was intended to show the “gray” and “dark” world the characters lived in.

Jenkins noted that people often compared the 2017 film to Wonder Woman 1984—referencing the fact that 1984 appears more “vibrant” in color, while Wonder Woman seems a bit “bleak” and “desaturated.” According to Jenkins, that’s the whole point of the film. All in all, both films were supposed to “speak the same language,” despite being in different worlds.

wonder woman ladder cat
Warner Bros. Pictures/IMDb

2. Wonder Woman’s Shield utilized A Special 'shaking' Device

Just to give a little bit of context to the “No Man’s Land” scene, Diana (before she becomes Wonder Woman) has set out to stop World War I. While in the trenches, an American pilot named Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) says there’s nothing she can do. Without a second thought, she sheds her clothing, revealing her superhero costume underneath. Then, she climbs a ladder and steps onto the battlefield as Wonder Woman, which marks a major turning point in the film.

Wonder Woman’s heroic ensemble wouldn’t be complete without the metal shield. Roven explained that the special effects team built a device that would shake the shield on demand, appearing as if the bullets were hitting it. So, when the device is activated, it looks like Wonder Woman is evading the bullets coming toward her. But in reality, the device is simply making it look like she is on screen.

wonder woman war cat
Warner Bros. Pictures/IMDb

3. The Director Wanted To Pay Homage To The Original ‘wonder Woman’ Tv Series With The Big Reveal

For Jenkins, she wanted Wonder Woman’s signature moment to be perfect—while also paying homage to the 1975 original series. In the show, Wonder Woman (who was played by Lynda Carter) did a spin transformation, revealing her superhero costume. However, in Jenkins’s version, the camera did a 360-degree spin instead and showed Diana taking off her cloak. This effect was used to reference the original, while also putting Jenkins’s personal spin (no pun intended) on the big unveiling.

no mans land scene wonder woman cat
Warner Bros. Pictures/IMDb

4. The Crew Built A 360-degree Camera To Shoot Various Angles Of The Iconic Scene

To capture the moment, Jenkins shared that the film crew created a special 360-degree camera to shoot the entire scene. According to the director, the camera was used to film the various angles on the battlefield as Diana walks across. Although Jenkins revealed that the scene was the hardest to film, to her, this moment represents the birth of Wonder Woman. And thanks to the magic of filmmaking, we get to see her for the very first time—in all her blazing glory.

Purewow Rating: 4.5 Out Of 5 Stars

Just by watching the first episode, I definitely want to hear more filmmakers talk about their “perfect shot.” Also, it was fun to learn the ins and outs of creating a scene and seeing it come to life onscreen. Movie lovers will find One Perfect Shot to be an enjoyable and insightful watch.

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Karelle Mckay

Assistant Editor, News And Entertainment

Karelle McKay is the Assistant Editor of News and Entertainment at PureWow. Before she started writing about all things pop culture, she was a literal couch potato who loved...
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